Chapter 418 - 406: Extortion at the Port, Welcoming the Garrison Commander
The gathering ended on a sour note.
More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
"Attention, fellow cultivators."
"This voyage is about to reach its destination."
"Please prepare yourselves, gather your personal belongings, and disembark in an orderly fashion."
"A solemn warning: The entirety of Black Flame Fortress is a militarily controlled zone. After docking at the port, please follow all instructions and do not act on your own!"
"Violators will be killed without question!"
Listening to the broadcast, Su Ye gazed out the window. A super-fortress, standing tall upon the sea like a colossal beast, nearly filled his entire field of vision.
Black Flame Fortress—the Flame Alliance’s main base of operations in the Sulfur Strait!
The cultivators of the Flame Alliance had completely hollowed out a high-grade, third-rank volcanic island and used it as the foundation to construct this permanent fortress, which spanned hundreds of kilometers!
VMMMM!
A river of crimson magma flowed around the jet-black fortress walls, like a fire dragon coiling through the fortress!
The Flame Alliance cultivators had used an array to control the island’s subterranean volcano, drawing out its magma and thermal energy to serve as the fortress’s defenses!
At the same time, this array also provided energy for the Luotian Array.
’The Liangyi Immortal Jade is right here in Black Flame Fortress, serving as the stabilizing object for the Luotian Array...’ Su Ye stroked his chin, a profound look flashing in his eyes.
...
Vmmm.
The Seagull sailed into the harbor.
Its sails furled automatically, and the Array Power Engine gradually shut down.
A gangplank extended, forming a staircase.
Hundreds of Qi Refining cultivators filed out of the cabins. Many cheered, overjoyed. For Qi Refining cultivators, two months in the dark cabins had been a true ordeal.
"Silence!"
"You fucking rookies, you think this is a field trip?!"
At the heavily guarded port, fully armored soldiers shouted harshly.
These soldiers were all Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. They shared the same Cultivation Technique and aura, moving as one. The hundreds of them exuded the grim, bloody aura of battle-hardened veterans!
Struck by the Evil Qi, the hundreds of Qi Refining cultivators trembled, as quiet as quails.
They were herded by the soldiers into a passageway to await their assignments.
"I wonder how many of these Qi Refining cultivators will be fortunate enough to return home alive?"
Watching the Qi Refining cultivators leave, a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator dressed as a scholar sighed softly, feeling a sense of pity for his own kind.
"We’re much luckier than those Qi Refining cultivators."
"With Mr. Jian’s protection, our chances of surviving the three-year mandatory conscription are very high!"
"Maybe we can even advance further?"
"I looked it up. Five hundred battle merits can be exchanged for one Nourishing Yuan Elixir..."
The Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Seagull chatted amongst themselves.
They gathered around Mr. Jian, showering him with praise and flattery.
After the gathering, the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Seagull had formed a small clique.
Of course, Su Ye was the exception. He was ostracized.
Even the Xv Family siblings couldn’t go against the group to associate with him at a time like this.
However, Su Ye didn’t care. With a detached expression, he calmly watched the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
’Heh... he’s so good at pretending. I don’t even know what he’s pretending to be!’
’Once we’re on the battlefield and there’s no one to help you, let’s see how long you last!’
The sharp-chinned, monkey-faced young man with the surname Fang, who had stirred up trouble earlier, sneered as malice churned within him.
...
Soon, the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, clustered around Mr. Jian, disembarked.
They had just set foot in the port, not even having had a chance to look at the signs, when a squad of red-armored cultivators approached and blocked their path!
"Halt!"
Powerful fluctuations of fire-aspected Magical Power surged from this squad of red-armored cultivators.
Shockingly, not a single one of these red-armored cultivators was below the Mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Furthermore, their Evil Qi was immense, and the reek of blood was so thick it was almost tangible!
"The Blazing Flame Guard!"
"It’s the Blazing Flame Guard!"
"One of the Flame Alliance’s Three Guards—the elite of the elite!"
Xv Xiuping, being knowledgeable and well-informed, called out a warning.
"To think it’s the Blazing Flame Guard..."
The expressions of the Foundation Establishment cultivators present turned grim.
The Three Guards of the Flame Alliance were killing machines, handpicked from the best of the best and trained with all the Alliance’s resources!
Their leader was tall and wore the standard-issue heavy red armor of the Blazing Flame Guard, but with an additional golden fire ring on each shoulder, signifying the rank of centurion!
The centurion’s gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s and as fierce as a wolf’s. His voice was cold and hard.
"Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"In the name of the Flame Alliance, I am ordering you to proceed to District Twelve!"
As he spoke, he moved his hand and activated a holographic map.
One look at it, and the cultivators present burst into an uproar!
District Twelve was located on the very front lines of the battlefield, and... more than a quarter of its area was covered in black diagonal lines!
Furthermore, just in that brief moment, the black diagonal lines expanded, covering another small patch!
"Excuse me, Sir, could you explain what these black diagonal lines mean...?" Mr. Jian stepped forward and asked, releasing a trace of his Fake Core aura.
"That’s not for you to—" The centurion had no intention of answering, but upon sensing Mr. Jian’s Fake Core cultivation, he frowned and offered an explanation.
"A contested defense sector."
Holy shit!
The moment they heard this explanation, the Foundation Establishment cultivators present completely freaked out!
Didn’t this mean that as soon as they arrived at Black Flame Fortress, they were going to be used as cannon fodder on the front lines?!
HISS...
The group drew in a sharp, cold breath!
Xv Xiuping’s expression changed several times. ’Is this some kind of joke?!’
One didn’t need to think hard to know that the death rate for something like this would be extremely high!
He gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and tried to negotiate. "Sir, we are weary from our long journey and exhausted. Could you perhaps show a little leniency?"
"The front line is in crisis! There is no time!"
"You have five minutes to rest here. At most!"
After speaking, he flicked his wrist and produced an hourglass.
At the same time, he turned and walked toward a small hut not far away.
Huh?!
Seeing this, a glint flashed in Xv Xiuping’s eyes, as if he had just realized something!